Demi-Couture--a Hot Trend in Clothing Design

Demi-couture is emerging as a major development in clothing design, writes Mark Holgate in Vogue's July 2006 issue. What is it and how is it changing careers in fashion?

Holgate defines demi-couture as "...somewhere between industrially produced designer fashion (the pret-a-porter, or ready-to-wear) and clothes created entirely by hand and after three fittings with a client (the haute couture)." It's a big deal, and here's why.

Why Demi-couture Clothing Design?
Demi-couture provides an opportunity for clothing designers to begin making more artfully designed and crafted pieces for a larger number of fashion connoisseurs. If you have the money, you'll be able to buy these pieces off the rack--that alone means much more than a single piece will be produced. And what designer wouldn't want to design a $20,000 cashmere coat over a $100 cotton baby-doll dress that's been done a thousand times before?

Clothing Designers Devoted to Demi-couture
Naturally, top designers are the ones most likely to be producing demi-couture. Some of those Holgate listed include Nicolas Ghesquiere of Balenciaga, Olivier Theyskens of Rochas, and Alber Elbaz at Lanvin. There are many others, however, with high-profile careers in fashion taking advantage of this new opportunity, which some may surely recognize as an important emerging segment of the fashion market.

With prices like $12,500 for a silk-charmeuse dress with hand-tucked pleats and $101,370 for a dress adorned with velvet ribbon embroidery, there appears to be great financial rewards associated with careers in fashion that involve demi-couture. (Not that considerable time isn't invested in these pieces, what with some pieces requiring as many as 300 hours of labor, according to Holgate).

Fashion School for Demi-couture
Can you learn about demi-couture in during fashion school? The short answer is maybe, depending on which fashion school you attend. Not all will focus on this laborious pursuit. Most fashion schools will probably still focus on what the majority of those with careers in fashion do, which is clothing design for everyday people, rather than the Melania Trumps, Lauren Bushes, and Tinsely Mortimers of the world.

So get jumping on your career in demi-couture fashion and start learning about the fine art of hand-made pieces of utter luxury.

About the AuthorSarah Clark is a freelance writer specializing in career development and postsecondary education.

Featured Schools

Congratulations! Your interest in California College San Diego is an important first step toward changing your life. A career-focused degree is the key to a new career with a potentially higher income, better benefits, and more satisfaction.

We want to help you get that degree. Consider:

1. Start Fast, Finish Fast: You can earn an Associate's degree in 20 months, and a Bachelor’s degree in 30 to 36 months.*

2. Save up to $5,000 on your college degree.† You can afford college with our new Fresh Start Scholarships!

3. Tuition Assistance: Financial aid and grants are available to those who qualify.

4. No additional Fees, No Hassles: No parking fees, no long lines, no lab fees, no cost for books, no waiting for class availability.

5. Employment Assistance: We’ll help you find your new job when you graduate.**

7. Convenience: Day, evening and online‡ classes are available to fit your schedule.

8. Accredited Institution: California College San Diego is an Accredited Member of the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).

9. Programs Approved for Veterans: Take full advantage of your military benefits to earn your degree.

10. A New Laptop Computer: Get it when you start and keep it when you graduate.***

You can get started toward a high-demand career in healthcare, business, information technology or graphic arts right now. Complete the form and see how you can qualify for a scholarship (not based on grades or exams!) and save up to $5,000 on your college degree.

We invest in you! California College San Diego® is a nonprofit institution and an accredited member, ACCSC.

We are committed to helping you achieve your goals and complete your degree as quickly as possible. One of our Admissions Counselors is ready to assist you with this process. Here is what you can expect from us:

Your creativity is a big part of who you are and where you're going. To take it, and your future, as far as you want, you need an education that's focused on developing your talents and putting you on the path toward the creative career that stirs your imagination. A collaborative education at The Art Institutes is all about the work, the students who create it, and the instructors who guide them.

Learning at Full Sail University has always centered around interaction and the exchange of ideas. Our online curriculum fully embraces this philosophy. We have developed our own online learning environment with the aim of being the most people-focused education experience on the web.

Full Sail's educational philosophy emphasizes an immersive approach to learning, combining elements of creativity, business and life skills, technical prowess and academic achievement. From video, animation and podcasts, to more traditional lectures and essay assignments, our goal is to find the most effective way to communicate important concepts.